Manchester United face financial blow after European woes

LOSING OUT: Being out of the Champions League is hurting Manchester wallets

The club's disastrous Champions League campaign sent them tumbling into the Europa League.

And with disgruntled fans turning their back on the low-key competition, United are having to shut part of Old Trafford for the home leg of their last-32 tie.

The top tier of the Sir Alex Ferguson stand will be closed when Danish champions Midtjylland are in town on February 25.

Despite slashing ticket prices by up to 25 per cent, poor sales mean United - who have not forced season-ticket holders to buy tickets for the game - will not be able to fill a stand which can house 26,000 people when fully open.

Around 5,000 seats will be empty with those who have already bought tickets being moved.

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As well as a dent in their pride, that means another shortfall in income.

Going out of the Champions League ahead of the knock-out stages has already cost United the chance to compete for £24m in prize money, with just £9.2m up for grabs in the much-maligned Europa League.

And rather than guaranteed full houses of over 75,000 for the remainder of a Champions League run, United are having to face up to the fact that the Europa League is a turn-off for fans.

This latest blow comes as United - whose last home attendance in the Europa League was 59,265 for a 3-2 defeat by Athletic Bilbao in March, 2012 - face a battle to qualify for next season's Champions League as they currently sit fifth in the Premier League.

Failure would cost them approaching £50m plus the knock-on effects of performance-related pay from their major sponsors, such as Adidas.

Executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward may have some tricky explaining to do when he addresses shareholders next Thursday at the release of United's quarterly-results.